Nut-lock.



Nn.s9o,9o2. Patented 1an; 7, |9012.

- n. T. WALLME.

NUT LUCK.

(Application ,lefi May 27, 1901.)

(unload.)

Unire Smarts arnnr rrrcn.

DAVID T. WALLACE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFECATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,902, dated January'7, 1902. Application tiled May 27, 1901. Serial No. 61,930. (No modelTo a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID T. VALLACE, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Nut-Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in nut-locks of that classwherein the nut is provided on itsinner face with a series ofprojections or ratchet-teeth and wherein a washer is non-rotativelymounted on the bolt between said nut and the body through which the boltpasses,which washer is provided with a springclick adapted forengagement with saidv projections on the nut to hold the latter inplace.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of two parts bolted together bya bolt which is provided with my improved nut-lock. Fig. 2 is an innerface view of the nut removed from the bolt. Fig. 3 is a cross-section ofthe bolt, showin g the washer in position thereon. Fig. 4 is an enlargedview of a fragment of the washer and bolt, showing the locking-lu g 0nthe washer. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken throughthe bolt, nut, and washer. Figs. 6, 7, and- S illustrate a modified"form of locking-washer. y

As shown in said drawings, A designates a bolt having the usual head a,B a nut which engages the screw-threaded end of the bolt, and C a washerwhich has sliding engagement with said bolt inside the nut, but isnon-rotative thereon.

D Ddesignate two pieces of wood orother material adapted to be securedtogether between the nut and bolt head and shown merely to illustratethe use to which the bolt may be put.

The nut is provided on its inner face with a circular series ofprojections b, which, as herein shown, have the form of ratchet-teeth,though this form is not essential. Said ratchet-teeth project inwardlyfrom the face of the nut as distinguished from being formed in the bodyof the nut, the teeth standing entirely inside the plane of the face ofthe nut. The washer C consists principally of a cylindrie body c, whichis provided on its inner end with a radial annular liange c. Said washeris aflixed non-rotatively to the bolt by means of a lug c2, projectinginto the bore of the washer, and engages a longitudinal groove a in thebolt. Said cylindric part of the washer is made of a size to fit snuglyin the space surrounded by theannular series of teeth or projections bon the nut, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the inner face of said teeth orprojections engaging said cylindric part of the washer, and preventinglateral movement of said washer relatively to the nut. The flange c' ofthe washer is cut at one place in its circumference and turned outwardlyto form a click c3, which is adapted to engage the teeth or projectionsl? on the nut. Said nut is rotated in the direction of inclination ofsaid click e3 from the washer, so that when it is turned down againstthe click said click interlocks with the teeth or projections andprevents the reverse rotation of the nut in a manner to remove the sameso long as said click occupies its usual position. When it is desired torelease the nut, the click may be bent inwardly by a suitable implement,thereby permitting reverse rotation of the nut.

As herein shown, the click is made of the full width of the fiange,thereby providing an ample bearing-surface between the click andratchet-teeth. The cylindric part b of the washer is made of such lengthwith respect to the click as to abut rmly against the nut before thepressure of the nut exerts any considerable inward pressure on theclick. If the cylindric part of said washer be entirely omitted, the nutmight obviously be turned downwardly far enough on the washer to bendthe click out of engagement with the ratchetteeth, and therefore defeatthe object or purpose of the device. l

The bottom of the groove a in the bolt is curved concentrically withrespect to the axis of the bolt, and the inner end of the lug c of thewasher iscorrespondingly curved, as shown in Fig. a. The said groove ais made of a depth to extend slightly belowl the base of thescrew-thread on the bolt. The conformation of the bottom of the grooveand IOO the inner end of the lug is such as to prevent, when torsionalstrain is applied to the washer through the nut to turn the same, thelug being raised ont of the groove, but, on the other hand, tends togive a firmer interlocking engagement between the lug and groove. If theinner end of' the lug were made square or round and the nut fittedsomewhatloosely upon the bolt,the torsional strain 1o mentioned Wouldtend to lift the lug out of the groove, and should the lug be liftedbeyond the base ofthe thread on the bolt would, if sufficient force beapplied .strip such thread. In such construction itis thereforenecessary t5 to make the groove sufficiently deep and the lugsufficiently long to prevent the happening of this contingency. In myconstruction, on the other hand, it is feasible to make the groove ofless depth than if the parts were so zo constructed as to permit thelugto rise slightly out of the groove under the conditions mentioned, sothat I am thereby enabled to save the strength of the bolt and at thesame time preserve the full locking eect between the 2 5 groove and lug.

The construction described, embracing the cylindric extension of thewasher which enters the circular space inclosed by the circular seriesof projections or teeth and tits closely 3o therein, is of considerablepractical importance, as this construction prevents relative movement ofsaid washer with respect to the nut or shaking thereof, and therebyassures greater integrity of the lock. It is well known that in devicesof this character one of the most serious objections is the liability ofthe parts to shake or rattle, the continuance of which causes wear andfinally disengagement of the locking parts.

4o In Figs. 6, 7, and S I have shown a modification of the washer. Inthis construction the washer consists of two parts-a sheetmetal part Fanda ring F. The part F is made with a hollow cylindric bodyf and aradial annular flange f', which latter is cut to form a click f2, as inthe construction before described. The ring F' is shaped on its outermargin to fit the interior surface of the cyli'ndric part of the part Fand is iiattened on 5o its other side to fit the Hat surface of the partthrough which the bolt passes. Said ring and the body of the washer areprovided with lugs f4 f3, respectively, which are adapted to engage thegroove a' in the bolt. With this construction the flanged part of thewasher may be made of sheet-steel byfa stamping operation, and the ringF serves to prevent the body of the sheet met-al part from beingcrushed. In the use of the washer last de- 6o scribed the ring F is rstslipped over the bolt and the sheet-metal part F slipped over the boltto follow the ring. The action of this form of Washer when the parts areassembled is the same as the construction first described.

I claim as my invention` l. The combination with a bolt and a nut, saidnut being provided on its inner face with an annularseries of teeth orprojections which extend beyond the plane of the inner face of the nut,of a Washer non-rotatively mount-ed on the bolt having a cylindric bodywhich fits snugly within the space surrounded by said teeth orprojections and provided on its inner end with a radial annular flange,said flange being cut and bent outwardly to form a click which engagessaid teeth or projections.

2. The combination with a bolt anda nut, said nut being provided on itsinner face with an annular series of teeth orprojections which areformed entirely inside the plane of said inner face of the nut, of awasher mounted non-rotatively on the bolt having a cylindric body whichts snugly within the space surrounded by said teeth or projections andprovided on its inner end with a radial annular ange, said iiange beingcut and bent outwardly at one side thereof to form a click which engagessaid teeth or projections, said cylindric body of the washer extendingpast the end of said click.

3. The combination with a bolt and a nut, said nut being provided on itsinner face with an annular series of teeth or projections which areformed entirely inside the plane of the inner face of the nut, of awasher having a cylindric body which lits snugly within the spacesurrounded by said teeth or projections and provided on its inner endWith a radial annular flange, said flange being cut and bent outwardlyat one side thereof to form a click which engages said teeth orprojections, said boltbeing provided with a longitudinalgroove and aninwardly-directed lug on the Washer adapted to engage the groove.

4:. The combination with a bolt and a nut, said nut being provided onits inner face with an annular series of teeth orprojections, of awasher mounted non-rotatively on the bolt, consisting of a sheet-metalpart having a hollow cylindric body which is adapted to enter the spacesurrounded by said teeth or projections, and a radial annular flange onone end of said body which is cut and bent outwardly to form a click forengagement with said teeth or projections, and a ring adapted to fillsaid hollow cylindric body to prevent crushing thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 24th dayof May, A. D.

DAVID T. WALLACE. Witnesses:

RUSSELL JACKSON, J. E. HARDGREN.

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